As Suzy Strutner rightly quoted, “Solo travel not only pushes you out of your comfort zone, it also pushes you out of the zone of others.” Every woman has that ‘Travel Solo’ dream on her bucket list. And why not? It gives us a sense of independence and decision-making power. It also lets us explore new versions of ourselves while exploring new places. Meeting new people, learning about their experiences and getting inspired, all are what excite us while travelling solo. But along with the excitement, it is also scary to travel alone, especially as a woman. Without proper planning, you could get into some serious trouble and your trip could go haywire. To prevent that and let yourself enjoy yourself without any regrets, here are some tips for planning your solo trip.
Choose a familiar destination
You might ask, why a familiar place? After all, solo travelling is all about exploring new places. But, for first-time travellers, it is much more beneficial to travel to places where the language and the culture are familiar to you. For example, if this is your first time travelling solo, then choosing a destination within the country is the most beneficial for you, as you know the language and the people there.
Do your research
Just like we plan for everything in our lives, planning before any travel is essential. Once you choose a destination, research the place thoroughly. What about this place is so special? What travel and stay facilities do they have? How safe is it? You should find answers to such questions through your research. If you are planning to visit any monumental site, make sure to check the visit timings of such places. A better way to keep all these things on track is bykeeping a travel journal. Assembling all your research in your journal is beneficial.
Plan a budget
The most important thing in travelling is…. Money of course! The main aspects where money is involved is the travelling and accommodation cost. While researching the places we are often blindsided by luxurious places with scenic views. But, the true essence of solo travelling comes from budget-friendly trips. Booking social accommodations like hostels, homestays etc and using local transportation for inter-city travel is safe as well as a chance to meet people from different backgrounds. Plan a budget which gives you the best trip ever, while not burdening your pockets.
Booking tickets in advance
Now, this is a major budget-friendly idea. Once your plan is set, execute your travel by booking tickets well in advance of your travel. Doing so, you get reduced prices and amazing discounts on your ticket. Also, try and choose the cheapest mode of travel. For example, if you are planning to travel within India, try to book a train ticket rather than a flight ticket as it is much cheaper and affordable. Although if you are travelling to islands like Lakshwadeep or The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, travelling during the off-season is cheaper. But be sure you don’t get stuck in terrible weather. Also, try and travel during the day rather than at night as it is much safer than travelling at night.
Travel Light
As women, we usually have this tendency to pack a lot of things, thinking that we might have to use them, even though there’s no possibility that we might use them. One of the essential rules of a solo trip is to travel light. Pack only essential items for your travel. Carry a first aid box, a power bank, a money belt, etc. Avoid packing any valuables or expensive things with your luggage. After all, you don’t want to drag your suitcase along while sightseeing. The smartest idea would be only carrying this that fits in a backpack. Remember this rule and travel easily and carefree. Lower your expectations
As travelling has always been your dream, you might have some kind of misconception of how solo travelling should look and how you should feel about it. But the reality could be much different than that. It could also cloud your judgement and ruin your first experience of travelling, so much so that you might never go for your second trip. Hence, it is better to lower your expectations. But that doesn’t mean you should always expect the worst of everything. Try and stay positive while not daydreaming about it. Do not over plan As I said above, planning is essential. But planning every minute detail of your travel might get boring. Sometimes it’s better to get lost to find a new way. But along with that, it is also important that you give yourself proper rest. Over-planning can lead to stress and not achieving everything might ruin your travel. So to avoid that, plan the must-do activities but be unconstrained. Solo travel is a life-changing experience. As author Mandy Hale said, “There are some places in life where you can only go alone. Embrace the beauty of your solo journey”. Travelling solo gives you a new paradigm to look from. It shows the beauty of the nature along with the touch of mankind. It gives you a sense of absolute serenity. So do not hesitate to travel. Expand your comfort zone and travel the world. Only then you’ll truly experience a wonderful life.
Written by : Ashwathi Anoopkumar
Author’s bio
Ashwathi Anoopkumar is a student pursuing her Master’s degree in Mass Communication and Journalism. She has content writing experience of 1.8 years and has written for multiple genres.
